Spacey Jane’s September 11th concert turned the atmosphere of the industrial Brooklyn Steel into that of a summer block party. The Australian band’s glowing indie-rock anthems felt all the more familiar performed live, filling the audience with a nostalgia for a moment that hadn’t yet passed.
The comfortable stage presence shared by Caleb Harper, Kieran Lama, Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, and Peppa Lane eagerly invited the audience into their sun-drenched soiree. Any perceived separation between stage and floor evaporated. Cornu’s high-top Converse and Lane’s ribboned pigtails emphasized the carefree image of a casual kick-back on the lawn. The band frolicked around the stage all night, kicking and jumping like kids on a trampoline, somehow never missing a note.
Their latest album and focus of this tour, If That Makes Sense, released in May. The new record played outside of the bands’ comfort zone, experimenting with production elements and pushing Harper’s range to higher limits. New sonic challenges were conquered while still abiding to Spacey Jane’s signature formula: existential themes sugarcoated by warm guitars and catchy drum beats.
Standout tracks “Through My Teeth” and “Estimated Delivery” from If That Makes Sense kicked off the evening. “Estimated Delivery” was the most anticipated song on the setlist for dedicated Spacey Jane fan Jonathan Kirby. This was his fifth time catching the band in their purest form, as he mentioned, “I’ve also seen them in Austin, Dallas, Chicago, and Brooklyn the last time they were here.” At that last Brooklyn show, his devotion took him as far as bribing the bouncer to get him and seven other friends in after they couldn’t secure tickets.
Longtime listeners like Kirby were in for a treat at the present performance, thanks to a setlist that recognized favorites from across every era of Spacey Jane. As Cornu plucked the first few notes of “Skin,” it was easy to pick out the fans who have been in it for the long run. Smiles swept across their faces as they relished in the sweetness of the band’s first full-length album, Sunlight.
As the show progressed into “Lunchtime” and “Whateverrrr,” the familial feeling strengthened between audience and artists. Harper may have been hitting every lyric just as it sounded on the recorded versions, but that didn’t keep him from sharing the mic. Fans seamlessly took over the chorus of “Whateverrrr” and the callouts of “f*ck this” that decorate “Lunchtime.”
The harmony of electric and acoustic guitar on “Houseplants” soothed the room, preparing the crowd for what Harper referred to as “a Spacey Jane classic.” “Feeding the Family” shot a burst of energy through the audience. It was followed up by “Thrills,” which kept bodies jumping, honoring the band’s garage rock beginnings.
Capitalizing on the bliss of the moment, Lama hopped on the mic to acknowledge that this show in particular was extra special — it was Harper’s birthday. As a member of the bands’ crew brought out a cake with candles ablaze, everyone in attendance broke into a birthday serenade. The moment was without a doubt the most memorable exchange of the night.
Lama thumped the bass drum to resume the setlist with “Headcold.” Hips swayed and heads bopped through the next few songs, but the crowd was careful not to overexert their energy. Anticipation radiated off of them, so thick it could’ve formed a fog. Fans knew the beloved “Booster Seat” was soon to come.
By the time the song hit the chorus, all hands surrendered upwards. Hundreds of voices joined Harper and Lane in singing to the sky. Lane’s delicate backing vocals added a new dimension to the already-atmospheric track.
Their last hurrah — the encore, concluded with “So Much Taller” and “Lots of Nothing.” Harper paraded the mic around like a staff, wrapping his arms around his bandmates, and motioning the crowd to match their energy. His and Lane’s floating harmonies on the bridge of “Lots of Nothing” ended the evening in a lullaby
Concerts often serve as a first or an early introduction between a band and their audience. In the case of this performance, fans left the venue feeling the same fuzziness they would after a reunion with familiar old friends.
The house lights stalled off for a few more minutes while ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” held the tone Spacey Jane had set. Dance circles formed as the remaining crowd took their turn to prance around just as the band had done. For that moment, the ceiling beams opened up to a big blue sky and the concrete floor retreated under lush grass. The room rejoiced in camaraderie and contentment — the kind you’d feel twirling about in your best friend’s backyard.
Words by Emma Ehrhard
Photos by Olive Jolley